After reading "The Victorian Internet" it makes me think back to when I first stepped into a High school classroom, BoysTown 1988. My learners had books, notebooks and pencils and were ready to learn. I had My teachers edition, notes and an overhead. We thought this would help our learners learn, because we had notes for them to see and write for better retention, and we could keep the notes on the transparencies....But did it?
Just like the book, education has had growing pains. With each new technology or teaching strategy, it's suppose to make teaching easier and our learners will be better for it....But are they?
My answer is yes, but with some qualifiers. Every new technology and teaching strategy has help both learners and educators, but they have also hurt both.
Today, there is always "One more thing" for us and learners to have. It has become so much information that I believe we don't know where to start. The school system believes that it will make us better educators while improving our learners "high stakes" tests scores, but it has created learners who regurgitate information and educators who put things in Google classroom or Blackboard and don't check for understand. My students talk about how their teachers do that and that they do not learn anything and that they feel that they could do most of their classes at home. When they ask questions for better understanding, they usually get "this is on the SOL". I know that it's not all educators, but this is what technology has done to some. My learners also tell me that they take some classes online, because the all the answers to test are online.
Technology is important, because that's todays schools and businesses, but at what cost? Learners are socially inadequate and cannot speak to others. Does technology bring people together or does technology cause us to be less connected.....That is the question for the future.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Post#4 Learning
I believe the phrase: Good learning engages students in "playful" activities, using symbolic tools to develop and internalize meaningful thought. In the CTE classrooms this is how we do what we do. As my first Administrator told me in my interview 24 years ago."Wayne, we teach the world of work and Cosmetology is your tool to do that". I still believe this today as I did 24 years ago.
When designing a lesson, my first thought is "How does this transfer to the business world?" It maybe useful in the Cosmetology industry, but how can they use this in other businesses as well? It maybe a practical skill, such as: haircut, color technique, perm or Updo. They learn to take on the challenge of a new task; frustration, peer coaching and overcoming an obstacle. In theory most of the subjects will transfer to Cosmetology as well as the business world: Infection Control, Resume` writing, Job interviewing skills, Public speaking and Entrepreneurship.
I can only speak about education from the CTE perspective, because that's my world. I find it amusing that the "experts" keep talking about; Active play, authentic learning, making learning visible and modeling, coaching and fading. I've taught in the private sector as well as in a high school, and this is how they want us to teach their learners. I know that every ten years or so there's this "new idea" and it seems to talk about student engagement, teaching for future jobs...... We in CTE know all to well the importance of education and engaging our learner for the future, because that's what we do! We teach the world of work, and our vocation is how we motivate our learners.
Here's a quick video about the Skills gap from Mike Rowe, I hope that you enjoy.
When designing a lesson, my first thought is "How does this transfer to the business world?" It maybe useful in the Cosmetology industry, but how can they use this in other businesses as well? It maybe a practical skill, such as: haircut, color technique, perm or Updo. They learn to take on the challenge of a new task; frustration, peer coaching and overcoming an obstacle. In theory most of the subjects will transfer to Cosmetology as well as the business world: Infection Control, Resume` writing, Job interviewing skills, Public speaking and Entrepreneurship.
I can only speak about education from the CTE perspective, because that's my world. I find it amusing that the "experts" keep talking about; Active play, authentic learning, making learning visible and modeling, coaching and fading. I've taught in the private sector as well as in a high school, and this is how they want us to teach their learners. I know that every ten years or so there's this "new idea" and it seems to talk about student engagement, teaching for future jobs...... We in CTE know all to well the importance of education and engaging our learner for the future, because that's what we do! We teach the world of work, and our vocation is how we motivate our learners.
Here's a quick video about the Skills gap from Mike Rowe, I hope that you enjoy.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Post #3 Situated Cognition
As educators we need to challenge our belief about learning and development....Knowing is separate from doing. CTE classes teach both! In Cosmetology, I teach theory as well as practical skills, or as Chantilly High Schools motto is "Learning by doing". My learners need to know disorders of the Hair, skin and nails, so that they can recognize disorders and diseases that they may come across as a professional to keep the public safe from harmful diseases or disorders. I also teach them how to cut, color, relax, perm, manicures, style and design updos for their guests.
They learn to use tools as practitioners and enter the community of Cosmetology, so they see and understand the relevancy of my class. Because Cosmetology and CTE design opportunities for the learners to develop knowledge by involving them in "doing", we are preparing our learners the use of understanding the process to shape their understanding. They not only study about Cosmetology, they "do" Cosmetology.
In the first week we talked abut the fours Cs and I believe that this is what CTE classes do for our learners. We teach them what it is like to be a Chef, Carpenter, Mechanic, Engineer, Vet assistant, or Cosmetologist. We plan Authentic activities that allows the learners to problem solve in related practices. We give them "usable knowledge", not just facts or vocabulary. We push learners beyond just learning the subject, but to perform, create and apply their knowledge to the workforce. The learners have opportunities to share what they learn by, grooming dogs, cooking meals for staff and their families, build a house, fix cars or creating a style for a guest. CTE learners have the opportunity to compare the meanings that they have built about knowledge with those of other careers and classes.
I found a nice video of the 4 Cs that I'd like to share: https://youtu.be/BXT2STtm_54
They learn to use tools as practitioners and enter the community of Cosmetology, so they see and understand the relevancy of my class. Because Cosmetology and CTE design opportunities for the learners to develop knowledge by involving them in "doing", we are preparing our learners the use of understanding the process to shape their understanding. They not only study about Cosmetology, they "do" Cosmetology.
In the first week we talked abut the fours Cs and I believe that this is what CTE classes do for our learners. We teach them what it is like to be a Chef, Carpenter, Mechanic, Engineer, Vet assistant, or Cosmetologist. We plan Authentic activities that allows the learners to problem solve in related practices. We give them "usable knowledge", not just facts or vocabulary. We push learners beyond just learning the subject, but to perform, create and apply their knowledge to the workforce. The learners have opportunities to share what they learn by, grooming dogs, cooking meals for staff and their families, build a house, fix cars or creating a style for a guest. CTE learners have the opportunity to compare the meanings that they have built about knowledge with those of other careers and classes.
I found a nice video of the 4 Cs that I'd like to share: https://youtu.be/BXT2STtm_54
Sunday, September 8, 2019
Post #2 Saber-Tooth Curriculum
When I first started to read the book, I was wondering why? But after I finished reading it, it reminded me of the educational system of today, just not the cavemen....Unless you're talking about Administrators....(Just Kidding)
My 25 word or less analogy of the book was: The evolution of college and the importance of education, and how everyone believes that they have the perfect mousetrap.
Since entering into the world of high school education in 1997, I still believe this to be a true analogy. I've been through four principles and four Academy Administrators, and they all believe that their vision is the best. In many cases they do not involve the staff or the students, they just roll out their vision and ask us to believe it and support it 100%.
Just like in the book when the scouts came back and reported on the community over the mountain and how they had rocks, but they didn't use them. The ruler asked "don't they have education" and the scouts said " they do something they call education, but it's a collection of traditional activities".
Like education today, we are blocked in attempts to better the educational process with pseudo education, for high stakes testing.
I do see the tide changing and we as educators are more involved in the process of delivering great education, because the "Cavemen" are being replaced with more progressive Administrators. That way we will not be over run by the ruler from over the mountain.
My 25 word or less analogy of the book was: The evolution of college and the importance of education, and how everyone believes that they have the perfect mousetrap.
Since entering into the world of high school education in 1997, I still believe this to be a true analogy. I've been through four principles and four Academy Administrators, and they all believe that their vision is the best. In many cases they do not involve the staff or the students, they just roll out their vision and ask us to believe it and support it 100%.
Just like in the book when the scouts came back and reported on the community over the mountain and how they had rocks, but they didn't use them. The ruler asked "don't they have education" and the scouts said " they do something they call education, but it's a collection of traditional activities".
Like education today, we are blocked in attempts to better the educational process with pseudo education, for high stakes testing.
I do see the tide changing and we as educators are more involved in the process of delivering great education, because the "Cavemen" are being replaced with more progressive Administrators. That way we will not be over run by the ruler from over the mountain.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Teacher are designers
As a Career and Technical Education (CTE) educator in Cosmetology, I have always believed that I was a designer, because that's what hairstylists' do: We bring the thought into action.As an educator, I am learning that teaching the theory and practical portion of Cosmetology is a whole new experience, and that it's not about the steps to create a look but the process or designing the lesson through my learners eyes, and to help them solve the guests needs.
When I first started teaching in 1988, I used an overhead projector for my lectures and I thought I was using the latest and greatest, because I could use the notes over and over and not have to erase when the board was full: Have times and technology changed!!!
- The purpose of educators for the 21st century is to help all learners reach their full potential, including ELL and special need learners.
- As educators we need to help our leaners reach their full potential.
- Todays job market requires the four Cs:
- Critical thinking & Problem solving
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Creativity & Innovation
- Learners for the 21st century need to be able to interact with people from many linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
- We as educators need to prepare our learners for college, career and life, by mastering the content.
For CTE, this is not new. This is how we teach our learners because we are teaching them the "real world" depending on our subject matter. We've been teaching the 4 Cs for as long as I can remember. It's nice to see that education is evolving, and noticing that when you put practical application to use the learners are more involved.
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